Image forming apparatus transferring log information

Abstract

An image forming apparatus for performing a process relating to forming of an image includes a log management unit to manage generated log information, and a log transfer unit to transfer log information of a type specified in log transfer information among the log information managed by the log management unit to a transfer destination specified in the log transfer information.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to image forming apparatuses, log transfer methods, and log transfer systems, and particularly relates to an image forming apparatus, a log transfer method, and a log transfer system which transfer log information to a transfer destination.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals and laser printers have been provided with connectivity to networks such as the Internet and local area networks (LAN), thereby allowing clients on the networks to use these apparatuses. In image forming apparatuses connected to networks, log information such as a job log and an access log is kept as a record, for the purpose of monitoring the state of usage and maintaining security. Patent Document 1, for example, discloses an image forming apparatus that records log information.[0005][Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Appl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, a log transfer method, and a log transfer system that can manage and transfer log information generated during the image forming process. The log transfer unit selects transfer destinations with different priority and transfers the log information of the specified type to the destination with highest priority. The system can also count the number of log information pieces that are erased or lost without being transferred. The technical effects of the invention include reducing the size of transferred log information, lowering the possibility of failing to transfer log information, and reporting the number of log information pieces that were lost or erased prior to transfer.

Problems solved by technology

Further, image forming apparatuses are not so reliable in terms of the recording of log information.

Even a log collecting server having a relatively large log information memory capacity, however, ends up running out of the log information memory space in a short time if log information is transferred from a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

Further, an image forming apparatus may fail to transfer log information due to network failure or in the situation where the log collecting server is down.

If the transfer of log information continues to fail, the image forming apparatus may end up running out of the memory space for recording log information before successfully transferring the log information.

If the transfer of log information continues to fail, further, the log information may be lost because of the unreliable performance of the image forming apparatus.

Images